BOOK REVIEWS BY JOAN G. SMITH JGS 350

THE WEIRD SISTERS BY: ELEANOR BROWN

This is a family that is definitely eccentric; comprised of three sisters; their mother and their father, a professor of Shakespeare – Dr. James Andreas at Barnwell College. For starters, all the girls were named for The Bards heroines – Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia.

The oldest daughter is Rose, the middle one is Bean, and the youngest is Cordy. They are all avid readers, the father speaks mostly in Shakespearian verse, TV is not a part of their lives, and all life’s problems can be solved with a library card!

Rose is the homebody, a college graduate, recently engaged to Jonathan and living at home with a good career. Bean is a fast living sophisticate in New York spending way above her means and Cordy is a traveling bohemian who finds herself pregnant on the road.

Their mother has just been diagnosed with cancer, which gives everyone an excuse to come home after being away for several years. No one wants to say that things have not turned out as expected, but make up excuses instead, at the beginning!

As the truth gradually appears, and we are treated to a humorous, thought-provoking display of a family torn apart and stitching its way back together. I didn’t find a single boring page on this journey – the characters are all wonderful!

The Girls have a way of describing themselves, and I quote, “See, we love each other. We just don’t like each other very much”.

Eleanor Brown has written a novel that pulls you into the lives of a family that makes you feel you are right there with them!

Published: THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP Penguin Group (USA) Inc. 375 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 USA Copyright: © 2011 by: Eleanor Brown Reviewed: 05/15/12 – 350 Copyright: © 2012 by Joan G. Smith 350